You did good, Homer. Sorry no one wanted to score any runs.(Photo by Keith Allison/Flickr)

This game started out well enough, with three hits and one walk in the bottom of the first. However, in that inning, Phillips, stealing second, took an ill-advised attempt at third when a ball got away from Posey, and was out by a mile. Still ,we score a run, and that point it seemed liked it might not matter too much. Homer would shut ‘em down, and the bats would get to Vogelsong in the next inning.

Bailey then put a couple of runners on base in the second, and one of them scored to tie the game- even though Homer didn’t allow a single hit until the fifth inning. After the second, though, Bailey was dominant, striking out six in a row, and 10 total, which is a new Reds postseason record (Strikeouts by a pitcher in a single postseason game). The previous holders were Jose Rijo in the 1990 World Series, and Hod Eller in the 1919 World Series with 9 Ks each.

Marshall and Chapman came in to relieve Bailey with strong outings. Broxton wasn’t exactly terrible either, but a couple hits and some poor fielding made ol’ Broxy responsible for the Giants’s 10th inning run scored.

It’s easy to blame Phillips for the baserunning blunder, Hanigan for the passed ball that allowed the winning run to get to third, or Rolen for the fielding error that allowed it to get home. On the other hand, the Reds had 10 whole innings to try and score more than one run, and that never happened. The Reds offense looked a lot like the September offense that had so many fans and talking heads doubting them coming into the postseason. Honestly, though, there’s no point in recriminations at this point in the season. The team is what the team is.

We’re still winning this series, 2-1, and playing the next two games in Great American Ball Park, where the team won 50 games this season. I know losing is a downer after the adrenaline of the two wins in San Francisco, but things are still looking good for us. Now, the question on everyone’s mind is who starts Game 4.  Cueto’s been reported to have a strained obligue, Mat Latos is rumored to have a touch of the flu. It seemed by the end of the game that Latos is going to be more recovered than Cueto, but it would be his second day of short rest in a row- even though he only threw 56 pitches in game 1.

No matter what, I’m doubting that the pitching situation for tomorrow is going to be optimal, so the bats better be ready.